Lacing architecture for automated footwear platform

ABSTRACT

Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an Lacing architectures for automated footwear assemblies are discussed. In an example, a footwear assembly can include a floating tongue within an upper assembly. The lacing architecture can include a first plurality or lace guides forming a first lacing zone and a second plurality of lace guides forming a second lacing zone. The lacing architecture can also include a tongue lace guide assembly secure to a proximal portion of the floating tongue.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/092,555, filed Nov. 9, 2020, which application is a divisionof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/165,023, filed Oct. 19, 2018, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,856,618, issued on Dec. 8, 2020, which applicationclaims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/634,358, filed Feb. 23, 2018 and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/574,940, filed Oct. 20, 2017, the contents ofall which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The following specification describes various aspects of a footwearassembly involving a lacing system including a motorized ornon-motorized lacing engine, footwear components related to the lacingengines, automated lacing footwear platforms, and lacing architecturesfor use in an automated footwear platform. More specifically, much ofthe following specification describes various aspects of lacingarchitectures (configurations) for use in footwear including motorizedor non-motorized lacing engines for centralized lace tightening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. Like numerals havingdifferent letter suffixes may represent different instances of similarcomponents. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, butnot by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the presentdocument.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustration of components of a portion of afootwear assembly with a motorized lacing system, according to someexample embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2C are illustrations of a fully assembled footwear assemblyincluding automated lace tightening, according to some exampleembodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3B are top-view diagrams illustrating a lacing architecture foruse with footwear assemblies including a motorized lacing engine,according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 4A is a top-view diagram illustrating a two-zone lacingarchitecture for use with footwear assemblies including a motorized ornon-motorized lacing engine, according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 4B is a photographic image of a footwear assembly utilizing atwo-zone lacing architecture, according to some example embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5F are diagrams illustrating a lacing guide for use in certainlacing architectures, according to some example embodiments.

Any headings provided herein are merely for convenience and do notnecessarily affect the scope or meaning of the terms used or discussionunder the heading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The concept of self-tightening shoe laces was first widely popularizedby the fictitious power-laced Nike® sneakers worn by Marty McFly in themovie Back to the Future II, which was released back in 1989. WhileNike® has since released at least one version of power-laced sneakerssimilar in appearance to the movie prop version from Back to the FutureII, the internal mechanical systems and surrounding footwear platformemployed do not necessarily lend themselves to mass production or dailyuse. Additionally, other previous designs for motorized lacing systemscomparatively suffered from problems such as high cost of manufacture,complexity, assembly challenges, and poor serviceability. The presentinventors have developed a lacing architecture for use on a modularfootwear platform to accommodate motorized and non-motorized lacingengines that assists in solving some or all of the problems discussedabove, among others. The lacing architectures and lace guides discussedherein also focus on improving fit and comfort when used in conjunctionwith an automated lacing engine. In order to fully leverage the modularlacing engine discussed briefly below and in greater detail inco-pending application Ser. No. 15/452,636, titled “LACING ENGINE FORAUTOMATED FOORWEAR PLATFORM,” which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety, the present inventors developed lacing architecturesdiscussed herein. The lacing architectures and lace guides discussedherein can solve various problems experienced with centralized lacetightening mechanisms, such as uneven tightening, fit, comfort, andperformance. One aspect of enhanced comfort involves a lacingarchitecture that reduces pressure across the top of the foot. Examplelacing architectures can also enhance fit and performance bymanipulating lace tension in both a medial-lateral direction as well asin an anterior-posterior (front to back) direction. Another examplelacing architecture discussed below splits the lacing system into twozones to provide better fit, performance and comfort by separating thetoe (forefoot) area from the mid-foot area. Various other benefits ofthe components described below will be evident to persons of skill inthe relevant arts.

The lacing architectures discussed were developed specifically tointerface with a modular lacing engine positioned within a mid-soleportion of a footwear assembly.

However, the concepts could also be applied to motorized and manuallacing mechanisms disposed in various locations around the footwear,such as in the heel or even the toe portion of the footwear platform.The lacing architectures discussed include use of lace guides that canbe formed from tubular plastic, metal clip, fabric loops or channels,plastic clips, and open u-shaped channels, among other shapes andmaterials. In some examples, various different types of lacing guidescan be mixed to perform specific lace routing functions within thelacing architecture. Certain examples of specific lace guideconfigurations are discussed in detail below.

The motorized lacing engine discussed below was developed from theground up to provide a robust, serviceable, and inter-changeablecomponent of an automated lacing footwear platform. The lacing engineincludes unique design elements that enable retail- level final assemblyinto a modular footwear platform. The lacing engine design allows forthe majority of the footwear assembly process to leverage known assemblytechnologies, with unique adaptions to standard assembly processes stillbeing able to leverage current assembly resources.

In an example, the modular automated lacing footwear platform includes amid-sole plate secured to the mid-sole for receiving a lacing engine.The design of the mid-sole plate allows a lacing engine to be droppedinto the footwear platform as late as at a point of purchase. Themid-sole plate, and other aspects of the modular automated footwearplatform, allow for different types of lacing engines to be usedinterchangeably. For example, the motorized lacing engine discussedbelow could be changed out for a human-powered lacing engine.Alternatively, a fully automatic motorized lacing engine with footpresence sensing or other optional features could be accommodated withinthe standard mid-sole plate. The lacing architectures are specificallydesigned to assist in interfacing a lace cable (or similar lacingelement) with a lacing engine.

Utilizing motorized or non-motorized centralized lacing engines totighten athletic footwear presents some challenges in providingsufficient performance without sacrificing some amount of comfort.Lacing architectures discussed herein have been designed specificallyfor use with centralized lacing engines, and are designed to enablevarious footwear designs from casual to high-performance.

Footwear terminology used in this disclosure includes terms such asfloating textile layer, outer layer, shoe upper, bonding material, andeyestay, which are all further defined in a co-pending application Ser.No. 15/459,932, titled “SHOE UPPER WITH FLOATING LAYER”, that is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. The floating textile layer isa term used, in an example, to describe an inner sock-like structurethat essentially floats within an outer layer of an upper portion of afootwear assembly. The floating textile layer can be attached to themid-sole of the footwear assembly and may be minimally attached atselect places to portions of an upper portion as well. In certainexamples, the floating textile layer can be made from material withno-stretch or limited stretch properties. In some examples, the materialof the floating textile layer is a quad-axial, tri-axial, or non-wovenmaterial.

The outer layer is a second layer of a footwear upper (or shoe upper)that covers the floating textile layer and substantially accounts forthe outside shell of the shoe upper. In some examples, the outer layeris an outer knit shell. The outer layer can also be made in whole or inpart from polyurethane, leather, cast urethane, or digitally printedurethane as well as knit, woven, braided, or non-woven materials.

A bonding material is typically used to reinforce portions of a footwearassembly, such as edges of the outer layer or floating textile layer,among others. The eyestay is a term used, in some examples, to describean area on the footwear upper adapted to receive eyelets or lace guides.In some examples, the eyestay area can be reinforced with bonding orsimilar materials.

This initial overview is intended to introduce the subject matter of thepresent patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusiveor exhaustive explanation of the various inventions disclosed in thefollowing more detailed description.

Automated Footwear Platform

The following discusses various components of the automated footwearplatform including a motorized lacing engine, a mid-sole plate, andvarious other components of the platform. While much of this disclosurefocuses on lacing architectures for use with a motorized lacing engine,the discussed designs are applicable to a human-powered lacing engine orother motorized lacing engines with additional or fewer capabilities.Accordingly, the term “automated” as used in “automated footwearplatform” is not intended to only cover a system that operates withoutuser input. Rather, the term “automated footwear platform” includesvarious electrically powered and human-powered, automatically activatedand human activated mechanisms for tightening a lacing or retentionsystem of the footwear.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustration of components of a motorizedlacing system for footwear, according to some example embodiments. Themotorized lacing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a lacing engine10, a lid 20, an actuator 30, a mid-sole plate 40, a mid-sole 50, and anoutsole 60. FIG. 1 illustrates the basic assembly sequence of componentsof an automated lacing footwear platform. The motorized lacing system 1starts with the mid-sole plate 40 being secured within the mid-sole.Next, the actuator 30 is inserted into an opening in the lateral side ofthe mid-sole plate opposite to interface buttons that can be embedded inthe outsole 60. Next, the lacing engine 10 is dropped into the mid-soleplate 40. In an example, the lacing system 1 is inserted under acontinuous loop of lacing cable and the lacing cable is aligned with aspool in the lacing engine 10 (discussed below). Finally, the lid 20 isinserted into grooves in the mid-sole plate 40, secured into a closedposition, and latched into a recess in the mid-sole plate 40. The lid 20can capture the lacing engine 10 and can assist in maintaining alignmentof a lacing cable during operation.

In an example, the footwear article or the motorized lacing system 1includes or is configured to interface with one or more sensors that canmonitor or determine a foot presence characteristic. Based oninformation from one or more foot presence sensors, the footwearincluding the motorized lacing system 1 can be configured to performvarious functions. For example, a foot presence sensor can be configuredto provide binary information about whether a foot is present or notpresent in the footwear. If a binary signal from the foot presencesensor indicates that a foot is present, then the motorized lacingsystem 1 can be activated, such as to automatically tighten or relax(i.e., loosen) a footwear lacing cable. In an example, the footweararticle includes a processor circuit that can receive or interpretsignals from a foot presence sensor. The processor circuit canoptionally be embedded in or with the lacing engine 10, such as in asole of the footwear article.

Footwear Assembly

FIGS. 2A-2C are illustrations of a fully assembled footwear assemblyincluding automated lace tightening, according to some exampleembodiments. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2A, the footwearassembly 200 includes a mid-sole 211, an out-sole 212, a mid-sole plate213, actuator buttons 214, a footwear upper including an outer layer 215and a floating textile layer 216, a heel pull 217, a tongue pull 218,and a foot opening 219. In this example, only an upper edge of thefloating textile layer 216 is visible, but the floating textile layeressentially lines the inside of the outer layer 215.

However, as implied by the “floating” term, the floating textile layer216 is only secured to the outer layer 215 minimally along certainlocations, such as along an eyestay, a central throat portion, or aroundlace guide attachment points. In some examples, the floating textilelayer 216 is also (or alternatively) attached to the inside along aperiphery of the mid-sole 211. Details of an example footwearconstruction technique that could be used to produce the footwearassembly illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C is disclosed in the co-pendingapplication mentioned above, application Ser. No. 15/459,932, and willnot be repeated here.

In this example, a small outer portion of the mid-sole plate 213 isexposed through a cut-out in the mid-sole 211. In other examples, onlythe actuator buttons 214 may be exposed through the side of the mid-sole211. The mid-sole plate 213 is adapted to retain and protect a lacingengine within the mid-sole 211 of the footwear assembly 200.

FIG. 2B illustrates a medial view of footwear assembly 200. In thisexample, the footwear assembly 200 is depicted as including out-sole212, mid-sole 211, outer layer 215, heel pull 217, tongue pull 218, andfoot opening 219. The outer layer 215, in this example, is a knit outershell covering the floating textile layer 216 and all lacing components,such as the lacing components discussed in reference to FIGS. 3A-3Bbelow.

FIG. 2C illustrates a top view of footwear assembly 200, which includesillustration of outer layer 215, floating textile layer 216, heel pull217, foot opening 219, and a floating tongue 220. In this example, thefloating tongue 220 can be attached only at a distal end or only at adistal end and a proximal end adjacent the foot opening 219.

Lacing Architectures

FIGS. 3A-3B are top-view diagrams illustrating a lacing architecture foruse with footwear assemblies including a motorized lacing engine,according to some example embodiments. FIG. 3A is a top-view diagramillustrating a flattened footwear upper with a lacing architecture foruse with a lacing engine, according to some example embodiments. In thisexample, the footwear upper 300 has a medial side 303 and a lateral side303, as well as a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end includesa toe box section 307 and the proximal end includes a heel portion. Thefootwear upper 300 also includes a floating textile layer 301, an outerlayer 302, and a floating tongue 305. The floating tongue 305 extendsout of the foot opening 309 of the outer layer 302 proximate a throatportion 311 formed from a U-shaped cut-out in at least the outer layer302. In other examples, the throat portion 311 can be integrated into acovered layer of the outer layer 302, so the throat portion 311 and thelacing architecture is concealed from external view. In some examples,the throat portion 311 is also cut-out of the floating textile layer301. In this example, the outer layer 302 can include an outer layerborder 320. The outer layer border 320 can be a bonding material or somesimilar reinforcing structure. In some examples, the knit outer shellouter layer can be bonded directly to the mid-sole without an outerlayer border.

In this example, the lacing architecture comprises a series of laceguides 310 that route a lace cable 319 in a crisscross pattern over thethroat portion 311. A crisscross lacing pattern is one that alternatesbetween medial and lateral side lace guides across a centerline of thefootwear assembly. The lace cable 319 can be fixed at a medial lacetermination 316 and a lateral lace termination 317, which creates a laceloop that is routed by the lacing architecture to engage a lacing enginehoused within a mid-sole of the footwear assembly. The lacing engine canbe located in various locations throughout the footwear assembly, but isdiscussed for exemplary purposes only as being more or less centeredunder the arch within the mid-sole.

In this example, the lacing architecture includes a tongue lace guideassembly 315 (or simply a tongue lace guide 315). The tongue lace guide315 can include a medial facing lace guide and a lateral facing laceguide. The medial facing lace guide and the lateral facing lace guidecan be molded or formed from a single piece of material or be separatestructures coupled together in some manner. In certain examples, themedial facing lace guide and the lateral facing lace guide can becoupled together with an elastic member that allows for some separationbetween the lace guides upon application of tension on the lace cable319. In certain examples, the medial facing lace guide and the lateralfacing lace guide can be adhered to a tongue lace guide reinforcement306. In yet other examples, the medial facing lace guide and the lateralfacing lace guide are disposed on, wrapped in, or otherwise connectedvia a webbing material. The tongue lace guide reinforcement can be ano-stretch or limited-stretch material, a rigid material, or an elasticmaterial. The tongue lace guide reinforcement 306 can be adhered,stitched, or similarly affixed to the floating tongue 305. In someexamples, the tongue lace guide reinforcement 306 be padded or similarlyconstructed to distribute forces applied to the tongue lace guide acrossa wider area to avoid hot-spots for a user.

The lacing architecture can include multiple lace guides 310 distributedaround a periphery of the throat portion 311 and affixed to an eyestay308. The eyestay 308 can be a reinforced portion of the outer layer 302or a separate structure affixed to the outer layer 302. The eyestay 308can be a bonding material, as noted above. The lace guides 310 can bestitched, adhered, or otherwise affixed to the eyestay 308. The eyestay308 can include enlarged areas to receive a lace guide 310, asillustrated in FIG. 3A. An example lace guide structure is discussedbelow in reference to FIGS. 4A-4F.

In the illustrated lacing architecture example, the lace guides 310route the lace cable 319 proximally along a periphery of the throatportion 311 in a crisscross fashion. From the lace guides 310, the lacecable 319 is routed into the tongue lace guide 315, which in turn routesthe lace cable 319 medially and laterally into heel lace guides 312. Theheel lace guides 312 can be adhered or affixed to a heel counter as wellas connected to a heel counter with an elastic connection or inelasticconnection to distribute lace cable forces around a heel portion of thefootwear assembly. From the heel lace guides 312 the lace cable 319 isrouted into either a medial lace exit 318 or a lateral lace exit 319.The medial lace exit 318 and the lateral lace exit 319 route the lacecable 319 into a position to engage a lacing engine disposed in themid-sole of the footwear assembly. The medial lace exit 318 and laterallace exit 319 can be a molded lace guide, a fabric lace guide, a tubularlace guide, a channel molded into the mid-sole, or some similarstructure capable of guiding the lace cable 319.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a floating tongue, according to anexample embodiment. The floating tongue 305 includes a proximal end (topof figure) and a distal end (bottom of figure) as well as a medial sideand a lateral side. In this example, the floating tongue 305 includes atongue outer layer 351 and a tongue inner layer 352. The tongue outerlayer 351 can be a similar material to the outer layer 302 of thefootwear upper 300. The tongue inner layer 352 can be a similar materialto the floating textile layer 301 of the footwear upper 300. In otherexamples, the tongue outer layer 351 and tongue inner layer 352 can bealternative materials and include padding or other features designed toenhance user comfort.

FIG. 4A is a top-view diagram illustrating a flattened footwear upper400 with a lacing architecture for use with a lacing engine, accordingto some example embodiments. FIG. 4B is a picture of an example footwearassembly utilizing the two-zone lacing architecture discussed inreference to FIG. 4A. In this example, the footwear upper 400 has amedial side 403 and a lateral side 404, as well as a distal (toe) endand a proximal (heel) end. The distal end includes a toe box section 407and the proximal end includes a heel portion 406. The footwear upper 400can also include a floating textile layer (optional, not illustrated),an outer layer 402, and a floating tongue 405. The floating tongue 405extends out of the foot opening 409 of the outer layer 402 proximate athroat portion 411 (also referred to as a throat section) formed from aU-shaped cut-out in at least the outer layer 402. In some examples, thethroat portion 411 varies in configuration, including various cut-outshapes or alternative material sections. All throat portions allow forportions of the lateral and medial sides of the footwear assembly tomove in reference to each other. In other examples, the throat portion411 can be integrated into a covered layer of the outer layer 402, sothe throat portion 411 and the lacing architecture is concealed fromexternal view. In some examples, the throat portion 411 is also cut-outof the floating textile layer. The footwear upper 400 can include someor all of the structures discussed in reference to footwear upper 300,but is illustrated in a more simplistic fashion to emphasize thetwo-zone lacing architecture.

In this example, the lacing architecture is split into two differentzones. The first zone interacts with the toe or forefoot area of thefootwear upper 400. The second zone interacts with the mid-foot area ofthe footwear upper 400. The first lacing zone lace cable is illustratedas a solid dark grey line, and the second lacing zone lace cableillustrated as a dotted black line. These differences are merely forillustrative purposes to assist in distinguishing the different lacecable paths, the lace cable in these details is a single cable runningfrom termination 420 to termination 421 (terminations also referred toas anchor locations or anchor points). Alternatively, even in designswere the first lacing zone and the second lacing zone utilize differentlace cables, the material used will typically be common between thedifferent zones. The first lacing zone can include lace guides guidingthe lace cable 410 from a first lace termination 420. In this example,the first lace termination 420 is located on a distal-lateral portion ofeyestay 408. The lace cable 410 is routed from the first lacetermination 420 across a distal end of throat portion 411 and through afirst medial lace guide 440. From the first medial lace guide 440 thelace cable 410 is routed back over the throat portion 411 and through afirst lateral lace guide 430. From the first lateral lace guide 430, thelace cable 410 is routed pass a second lateral lace guide 431 and thougha third lateral lace guide 432. The lace guides are label first, second,third, etc . . . to signify an order running proximally from the distalend of the throat portion 411 towards the foot opening 409. Optionally,the lace cable 410 can route through a material guide 422 enroute fromthe first lateral lace guide 430 to the third lateral lace guide 432.From the third lateral lace guide 432, the lace cable 410 is routedthrough a lateral facing tongue lace guide 417 and down to a lateralheel lace guide 451 through an optional material guide 422. The lateralheel lace guide 451 routes the lace cable 410 into a mid-sole plate vialateral lace exit 419.

The second lacing zone includes a set of lace guides routing the lacecable 410 from the second termination 421 to the medial lace exit 418.In this example, the lace cable 410 is routed from the secondtermination 421 on the lateral side of eyestay 408 over the throatportion 411 to the second medial lace guide 441. From the second mediallace guide 441 the lace cable 410 is routed back over the throat portion411 to the second lateral lace guide 431. The lace cable 410 then routesthrough the second lateral lace guide 431 back over the throat portion411 for a third time and through the third medial lace guide 442. Thethird medial lace guide 442 routes the lace cable 410 on to the medialfacing tongue lace guide 416, which routes the lace cable on towards themedial heel lace guide 450. Enroute to the medial heel lace guide 450the lace cable can optionally be routed through a material lace guide424. From the medial heel lace guide 450 the lace cable 410 is routedinto the mid-sole plate via the medial lace exit 418.

The two-zone lacing architecture enables an uneven distribution of thelace cable tension between the distal end of the throat portion 411 andthe proximal end. The first lacing zone applies the same lace cabletension across fewer lace guides, resulting the tension beingdistributed across a smaller area. The second lacing zone distributesthe lace cable tension over a larger area with more lace guides The userexperiences a tighter, higher performance fit in the toe (forefoot) areaof the footwear with the two-zone lacing architecture. Other multi-zonelacing architectures can be utilized to vary the distribution of lacecable tension as desired for a particular footwear application.

Example Lace Guides

FIGS. 5A-5F are diagrams illustrating an example lacing guide 800 foruse in certain lacing architectures, according to some exampleembodiments. In this example, an alternative lace guide with an openlace channel is illustrated. The lacing guide 800 described below can besubstituted into any of the lacing architectures discussed above inreference to lace guide 810, heel lace guide 610, or even the medialexit guide 835. All of the various configurations discussed above willnot be repeated here for the sake of brevity. The lacing guide 800includes a guide tab 805, a stitch opening 810, a guide superior surface815, a lace retainer 820, a lace channel 825, a channel radius 830, alace access opening 840, a guide inferior surface 845, and a guideradius 850. Advantages of an open channel lace guide, such as lacingguide 800, include the ability to easily route the lace cable afterinstallation of the lace guides on the footwear upper. With tubular laceguides as illustrated in many of the lace architecture examplesdiscussed above, routing the lace cable through the lace guides is mosteasily accomplish before adhering the lace guides to the footwear upper(not to say it cannot be accomplished later). Open channel lace guidesfacilitate simple lace routing by allowing the lace cable to simply bepushed pass the lace retainer 820 after the lace guides 800 arepositioned on the footwear upper. The lacing guide 800 can be fabricatedfrom various materials including metal or plastics.

In this example, the lacing guide 800 can be initially attached to afootwear upper through stitching or adhesives. The illustrated designincludes a stitch opening 810 that is configured to enable easy manualor automated stitching of lacing guide 800 onto a footwear upper (orsimilar material). Once lacing guide 800 is attached to the footwearupper, lace cable can be routed by simply pulling a loop of lace cableinto the lace channel 825. The lace access opening 840 extends throughthe inferior surface 845 to provide a relief recess for the lace cableto get around the lace retainer 820. In some examples, the lace retainer820 can be different dimensions or even be split into multiple smallerprotrusions. In an example, the lace retainer 820 can be narrower inwidth, but extend further towards or even into access opening 840. Insome examples, the access opening 840 can also be different dimensions,and will usually somewhat mirror the shape of lace retainer 820 (asillustrated in FIG. 5F). In this example, the channel radius 830 isdesigned to correspond to, or be slightly larger then, the diameter ofthe lace cable. The channel radius 830 is one of the parameters of thelacing guide 800 that can control the amount of friction experienced bythe lace cable running through the lacing guide 800. Another parameterof lacing guide 800 that impacts friction experienced by the lace cableincludes guide radius 850. The guide radius 850 also may impact thefrequency or spacing of lace guides positioned on a footwear upper.

FIG. 5G is a diagram illustrating a portion of footwear upper 805 with alacing architecture 890 using lacing guides 800, according to someexample embodiments. In this example, multiple lacing guides 800 arearranged on a lateral side of footwear upper 805 to form half of thelacing architecture 890. Similar to lacing architectures discussedabove, lacing architecture 890 uses lacing guides 800 to form a wavepattern or parachute lacing pattern to route the lace cable. One of thebenefits of this type of lacing architecture is that lace tightening canproduce both later-medial tightening as well as anterior-posteriortightening of the footwear upper 805.

In this example, lacing guides 800 are at least initially adhered toupper 805 through stitching 860. The stitching 860 is shown over orengaging stitch opening 810. One of the lacing guide 800 is alsodepicted with a reinforcement 870 covering the lacing guide. Suchreinforcements can be positioned individually over each of the lacingguides 800. Alternatively, larger reinforcements could be used to covermultiple lacing guides.

Similar to the reinforcements discussed above, reinforcement 870 can beadhered through adhesives, heat-activated adhesives, and/or stitching.In some examples, reinforcement 870 can be adhered using adhesives(heat-activated or not) and a vacuum bagging process that uniformlycompresses the reinforcement over the lacing guide. A similar vacuumbagging process can also be used with reinforcements and lacing guidesdiscussed above. In other examples, mechanical presses or similarmachines can be used to assist with adhering reinforcements over lacingguides.

Once all of the lacing guides 800 are initially positioned and attachedto footwear upper 805, the lace cable can be routed through the lacingguides. Lace cable routing can begin with anchoring a first end of thelace cable at lateral anchor point 870.

The lace cable can then be pulled into each lace channel 825 startingwith the anterior most lacing guide and working posteriorly towards theheel of upper 805. Once the lace cable is routed through all lacingguides 800, reinforcements 870 can be optionally adhered over each ofthe lacing guides 800 to secure both the lacing guides and the lacecable.

EXAMPLES

The present inventors have recognized, among other things, a need for animproved lacing architecture for automated and semi-automated tighteningof shoe laces. This document describes, among other things, examplelacing architectures and example lace guides used in the lacingarchitectures. The following examples provide some non-limiting examplesof the actuator and footwear assembly discussed herein.

Example 1 describes subject matter including a footwear assembly with alacing architecture to facilitate automated tightening. In this example,the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper assembly, a lacecable, a plurality of lace guides, a tongue lace guide, a medial heellace guide, a lateral heel lace guide, as well as a medial and laterallace exit. The footwear upper assembly can include an outer layer, afloating textile layer, and a floating tongue, the footwear upperassembly including a toe box section, a medial side, a lateral side, aheel section, and a central throat section. The footwear assembly canalso include a lace cable running through a plurality of lace guides.

The lace cable can include a first end anchored to the upper assemblyadjacent a distal medial portion of the central throat and a second endanchored to the upper assembly adjacent a distal lateral portion of thecentral throat. The plurality of lace guides can be distributed on theupper assembly along the medial side and the lateral side of the centralthroat, each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides adapted toreceive a length of the lace cable. In this example, the lace cable canextend through each of the plurality of lace guides and into the tonguelace guide assembly. The tongue lace guide assembly can be secured to aproximal portion of the floating tongue, the tongue lace guide assemblyadapted to receive lace cable from both the medial side and the lateralside. The medial heel guides can be positioned to receive the lace cablefrom the tongue lace guide along the medial side of the upper assembly.The lateral heel lace guide can be positioned to receive the lace cablefrom the tongue lace guide along the lateral side of the upper assembly.The medial lace exit can route the lace cable from the medial heel laceguide into a position allowing the lace cable to engage a lacing enginedisposed within a mid-sole portion of the footwear assembly. The laterallace exit can route the lace cable from the lateral heel lace guide intoa position to engage the lacing engine.

In example 2, the subject matter of example 1 can optionally include thetongue lace guide assembly having a medial facing lace guide opposite alateral facing lace guide.

In example 3, the subject matter of example 2 can optionally include thetongue lace guide assembly having an elastic member coupling the medialfacing lace guide to the lateral facing lace guide.

In example 4, the subject matter of example 2 can optionally include thetongue lace guide assembly being a single structure with a rigidconnection between the medial facing lace guide and the lateral facinglace guide.

In example 5, the subject matter of any one of examples 1 to 4 canoptionally include the tongue lace guide assembly being fused to areinforcement material that is stitched to the floating tongue.

In example 6, the subject matter of any one of examples 1 to 5 canoptionally include the floating tongue being secured to the upperassembly adjacent to a distal end of the central throat.

In example 7, the subject matter of example 6 can optionally include thefloating tongue being additionally secured to the upper assemblyadjacent a proximal end of the central throat.

In example 8, the subject matter of example 7 can optionally include thefloating tongue having an elastic coupling to the upper assembly.

In example 9, the subject matter of any one of examples 1 to 8 canoptionally include the lace cable forming a crisscross pattern across atleast a length of the central throat connecting the medial side thelateral side of the upper assembly.

In example 10, the subject matter of example 9 can optionally includethe crisscross pattern being created by routing the lace cable in analternating pattern between lace guides on the medial side and laceguides on the lateral side of the upper assembly.

In example 11, the subject matter of any one of examples 1 to 10 canoptionally include the medial heel lace guide and the lateral heel laceguide being coupled, via a heel coupling, to a heel counter within theheel section of the upper assembly.

In example 12, the subject matter of example 11 can optionally includeat least one of the heel counter or the heel coupling being an elasticmember.

In example 13, the subject matter of any one of examples 1 to 12 canoptionally include each lace guide of the plurality of lace guidesforming a u-shaped channel to retain the lace cable.

In example 14, the subject matter of example 13 can optionally includethe u-shaped channel in each lace guide being an open channel allowing alace loop to be pulled into the lace guide.

In example 15, the subject matter of any one of examples 1 to 14 canoptionally include each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides beingat least secured to the upper assembly by stitching.

In example 16, the subject matter of example 15 can optionally includeeach lace guide of the plurality of lace guides being further secured tothe upper assembly with an overlay including heat-activated adhesivecompressed over each lace guide.

Example 17 describes subject matter including a lacing architecture foran automated footwear platform. In this example, the lacing architecturefor an automated footwear platform can include a lace cable routedthrough a plurality of medial lace guides and a plurality of lateralguides into a tongue lace guide. For the tongue lace guide the lacecable can be routed into a medial heel lace guide and/or a lateral heellace guide, which then leads to either a medial lace exit or a laterallace exit. The lace cable can include a first end anchored to an upperassembly adjacent a distal medial portion of a central throat and asecond end anchored to the upper assembly adjacent a distal lateralportion of the central throat. The plurality of medial lace guides canbe distributed on the upper assembly adjacent to a medial side of thecentral throat. The tongue lace guide can be secured to a proximalportion of a floating tongue, with the tongue lace guide assemblyadapted to receive lace cable from a medial lace guide of the pluralityof medial lace guides and a lateral lace guide of the plurality oflateral lace guides. The medial heel lace guide can be positioned toreceive the lace cable from the tongue lace guide along a medial side ofthe upper assembly. While, the lateral heel lace guide can be positionedto receive the lace cable from the tongue lace guide along a lateralside of the upper assembly. The medial lace exit can route the lacecable from the medial heel lace guide into a position allowing the lacecable to engage a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion ofthe footwear platform. While the lateral lace exit routes the lace cablefrom the lateral heel lace guide into a position to engage the lacingengine.

In example 18, the subject matter of example 17 can optionally includethe tongue lace guide having a medial facing lace guide opposite alateral facing lace guide.

In example 19, the subject matter of example 18 can optionally includethe tongue lace guide including an elastic member coupling the medialfacing lace guide to the lateral facing lace guide.

In example 20, the subject matter of example 18 can optionally includethe tongue lace guide assembly being a single structure with a rigidconnection between the medial facing lace guide and the lateral facinglace guide.

In example 21, the subject matter of example 17 can optionally includethe tongue lace guide being fused to a reinforcement material that isstitched to a floating tongue.

Example 22 describes subject matter including a footwear assembly with alacing architecture to facilitate automated tightening. In this example,the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper assembly, a lacecable, a plurality of lace guides, a tongue lace guide, a medial heellace guide, a lateral heel lace guide, as well as a medial and laterallace exit. The lace cable can include a first end anchored to the upperassembly in a first anchor location and a second end anchored to theupper assembly in a second anchor location. A first plurality of laceguides can form a first lacing zone routing a first portion of the lacecable to tension a forefoot region of the footwear assembly. A secondplurality of lace guides can form a second lacing zone routing a secondportion of the lace cable to tension a mid-foot region of the footwearassembly. A tongue lace guide assembly can be secured to a proximalportion of the floating tongue, the tongue lace guide assembly adaptedto receive lace cable from both the medial side and the lateral side.The medial heel lace guide can be positioned to receive the lace cablefrom the tongue lace guide along the medial side of the upper assembly.The lateral heel lace guide can be positioned to receive the lace cablefrom the tongue lace guide along the lateral side of the upper assembly.The medial lace exit can route the lace cable from the medial heel laceguide into a position allowing the lace cable to engage a lacing enginedisposed within a mid-sole portion of the footwear assembly. The laterallace exit can route the lace cable from the lateral heel lace guide intoa position to engage the lacing engine.

In Example 23, the subject matter of Example 22 can optionally includethe second plurality of lace guides having a greater number of laceguides than the first plurality of lace guides.

In Example 24, the subject matter of any one of Examples 22 and 23 canoptionally include the second plurality of lace guides distributing lacecable tension across a larger area of the footwear assembly than thefirst plurality of lace guides.

In Example 25, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 3 canoptionally include the first plurality of lace guides including a mediallace guide on the medial side of the central throat section and twolateral lace guides on the lateral side of the central throat section.

In Example 26, the subject matter of Example 25 can optionally includethe first lateral lace guide of the two lateral lace guides beinglocated towards a distal end of the central throat section and thesecond lateral lace guide of the two lateral lace guides being locatedtowards a proximal end of the central throat section.

In Example 27, the subject matter of Example 26 can optionally includethe lace cable path for the first lacing zone including the pathsegments such as: the first anchor location to the medial lace guide;the medial lace guide to the first lateral lace guide; and the firstlateral lace guide to the second lateral lace guide.

In Example 28, the subject matter of Example 27 can optionally includethe lace cable path for the first lacing zone continuing from the firstsecond lateral lace guide to a lateral facing lace guide in the tonguelace guide assembly.

In Example 29, the subject matter of Example 28 can optionally includethe lace cable path for the first lacing zone continuing from thelateral facing lace guide to the lateral heel lace guide.

In Example 30, the subject matter of any one of Examples 22 to 29 canoptionally include the second plurality of lace guides forming thesecond lacing zone including a first lateral lace guide disposed along acentral portion of a lateral side of the central throat section and aplurality of medial lace guides distributed along a length of a medialside of the central throat section.

In Example 31, the subject matter of Example 30 can optionally includethe lace cable path for the second lacing zone including the pathsegments such as: the second anchor location to a first medial laceguide of the plurality of medial lace guides; the first medial laceguide to the first lateral lace guide; the first lateral lace guide to asecond medial lace guide of the plurality of medial lace guides.

In Example 32, the subject matter of Example 31 can optionally includethe second anchor location is located on a lateral side of the centralthroat section proximal at least one lace guide from the first lacingzone.

In Example 33, the subject matter of any one of Example 30 and 31 canoptionally include the lace cable path for the second lacing zonefurther including a path segment running from the second medial laceguide to a medial facing lace guide within the tongue lace guideassembly.

In Example 34, the subject matter of Example 33 can optionally includethe lace cable path for the second lacing zone continuing from thelateral facing lace guide to the lateral heel lace guide.

In Example 35, the subject matter of any one of Examples 22 to 34 canoptionally include the first anchor location being on the lateral sidedistal of the central throat section, and the second anchor locationbeing on the lateral side adjacent to a first lateral lace guide.

In Example 36, the subject matter of any one of Examples 22 to 35 canoptionally include the tongue lace guide assembly having a medial facinglace guide opposite a lateral facing lace guide.

In Example 37, the subject matter of Example 36 can optionally includethe tongue lace guide assembly having an elastic member coupling themedial facing lace guide to the lateral facing lace guide.

In Example 38, the subject matter of Example 36 can optionally includethe tongue lace guide assembly is a single structure with a rigidconnection between the medial facing lace guide and the lateral facinglace guide.

In Example 39, the subject matter of Example 38 can optionally includethe tongue lace guide assembly being fused to a reinforcement materialthat is stitched to the floating tongue.

In Example 40, the subject matter of any one of Examples 22 to 39 canoptionally include the medial heel lace guide and the lateral heel laceguide being coupled, via a heel coupling, to a heel counter within theheel section of the upper assembly.

In Example 41, the subject matter of Example 40 can optionally includeat least one of the heel counter or the heel coupling being an elasticmember.

Example 42 describes subject matter including a lacing architecture foran automated footwear platform. In this example, the lacing architecturecan include a lace cable, a first lacing zone and a second lacing zone.The lace cable can include a first end anchored to an upper footwearassembly adjacent a distal lateral portion of a central throat and asecond end anchored to the upper assembly adjacent a first lateral laceguide on a lateral portion of the central throat. The first lacing zonecan include a first portion of the lace cable running from the first endover the central throat to a first medial lace guide back over thecentral throat to a first lateral lace guide proximal along a lateralside of the central throat to a third lateral lace guide proximal to alateral facing lace guide within a tongue lace guide assembly laterallyto a lateral heel lace guide and on to a lateral lace exit along alateral edge of the footwear upper. The second lacing zone can include asecond portion of the lace cable running from the second end over thecentral throat to a second medial lace guide back over the centralthroat to a second lateral lace guide back over the central throat to athird medial lace guide proximally to a medial facing lace guide withinthe tongue lace guide assembly medially to a medial heel lace guide andon to a medial lace exit along a medial edge of the footwear upper.

Additional Notes

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implementcomponents, operations, or structures described as a single instance.Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustratedand described as separate operations, one or more of the individualoperations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that theoperations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures andfunctionality presented as separate components in example configurationsmay be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly,structures and functionality presented as a single component may beimplemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of thesubject matter herein.

Although an overview of the inventive subject matter has been describedwith reference to specific example embodiments, various modificationsand changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Such embodimentsof the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individuallyor collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience andwithout intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application toany single disclosure or inventive concept if more than one is, in fact,disclosed.

The embodiments illustrated herein are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed.Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, such thatstructural and logical substitutions and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. The disclosure, therefore,is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of variousembodiments includes the full range of equivalents to which thedisclosed subject matter is entitled.

As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in either an inclusive orexclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be provided forresources, operations, or structures described herein as a singleinstance. Additionally, boundaries between various resources,operations, modules, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary,and particular operations are illustrated in a context of specificillustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality areenvisioned and may fall within a scope of various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In general, structures and functionality presentedas separate resources in the example configurations may be implementedas a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures andfunctionality presented as a single resource may be implemented asseparate resources. These and other variations, modifications,additions, and improvements fall within a scope of embodiments of thepresent disclosure as represented by the appended claims. Thespecification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can becombined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of theother examples.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred toherein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition tothose shown or described. However, the present inventors alsocontemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described areprovided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examplesusing any combination or permutation of those elements shown ordescribed (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to aparticular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect toother examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or describedherein.

In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and anydocuments so incorporated by reference, the usage in this documentcontrols.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In thisdocument, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that“A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unlessotherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “inwhich” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms“including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device,article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements inaddition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemedto fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the followingclaims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merelyas labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements ontheir objects.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. An Abstract, if provided, isincluded to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the aboveDescription, various features may be grouped together to streamline thedisclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that anunclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventivesubject matter may lie in less than all features of a particulardisclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporatedinto the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with eachclaim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it iscontemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other invarious combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention shouldbe determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

The claimed invention includes:
 1. An apparatus comprising a floatingtongue configured to be disposed within a footwear assembly; and atongue lace guide assembly secured to a proximal portion of the floatingtongue, the tongue lace guide assembly adapted to receive a medialportion of a lace cable from a medial side of the footwear assembly androute the medial portion back along the medial side and receive alateral portion of the lace cable from a lateral side of the footwearassembly and route the lateral portion back along the lateral side. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tongue lace guide assemblyincludes a medial facing lace guide opposite a lateral facing laceguide.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tongue lace guideassembly includes an elastic member coupling the medial facing laceguide to the lateral facing lace guide.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is a single structure with arigid connection between the medial facing lace guide and the lateralfacing lace guide.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tongue laceguide assembly is fused to a reinforcement material that is affixed tothe floating tongue.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tonguelace guide assembly includes a medial lace guide and a lateral laceguide.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the medial lace guide iscoupled to the lateral lace guide with an elastic member that allows forvariation in separation distance between the medial lace guide and thelateral guide depending on a tension on the lace cable.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is coupled to atongue lace guide reinforcement.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, whereinthe tongue lace guide reinforcement is coupled to the floating tongue byone or more of an adhesive and stitching.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein the tongue lace guide reinforcement is adapted to distributeforces applied on the tongue lace guide assembly.
 11. A footwearassembly including: a lace cable routed through lace guides on afootwear upper; a floating tongue disposed within a throat portion ofthe footwear upper; and a tongue lace guide assembly secured to aproximal portion of the floating tongue, the tongue lace guide assemblyadapted to receive a medial portion of the lace cable from a medial sideof the footwear upper and route the medial portion back along the medialside of the footwear upper and receive a lateral portion of the lacecable from a lateral side of the footwear upper and route the lateralportion back along the lateral side of the footwear upper.
 12. Thefootwear assembly of claim 11, wherein the tongue lace guide assemblyincludes a medial facing lace guide opposite a lateral facing laceguide.
 13. The footwear assembly of claim 12, wherein the tongue laceguide assembly includes an elastic member coupling the medial facinglace guide to the lateral facing lace guide.
 14. The footwear assemblyof claim 12, wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is a singlestructure with a rigid connection between the medial facing lace guideand the lateral facing lace guide.
 15. The footwear assembly of claim11, wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is fused to a reinforcementmaterial that is affixed to the floating tongue.
 16. The footwearassembly of claim 11, wherein the tongue lace guide assembly includes amedial lace guide and a lateral lace guide.
 17. The footwear assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the medial lace guide is coupled to the lateral laceguide with an elastic member that allows for variation in separationdistance between the medial lace guide and the lateral guide dependingon a tension on the lace cable.
 18. The footwear assembly of claim 11,wherein the tongue lace guide assembly is coupled to a tongue lace guidereinforcement.
 19. The footwear assembly of claim 18, wherein the tonguelace guide reinforcement is coupled to the floating tongue by one ormore of an adhesive and stitching.
 20. The footwear assembly of claim18, wherein the tongue lace guide reinforcement is adapted to distributeforces applied on the tongue lace guide assembly.